Week 17 - 5th January 2013 match previews with...

Coventry Rugby v Cambridge preview.

Fixtures for week 17 - 5th January

Blaydon              v          Richmond

Cambridge         v          Coventry

Cinderford          v         Rosslyn Park

Ealing Tfs             v        Macclesfield

Esher                    v        Loughborough Students

Old Albanian       v        Fylde

Sedgley Park        v       Tynedale

Wharfedale          v       Blackheath   

As the league recommences after the festive break it is top against bottom as leaders Ealing Tfs entertain bottom side Macclesfield. Despite drawing their last game at Rosslyn Park there should be no problem in facing Macclesfield, who are now 19 points from safety despite recently beating Blackheath and Wharfedale at home.  With Ealing’s home form they should be able to consolidate their lead at the top.

Second place Blaydon go looking for their 11^th win on the trot as Richmond are their visitors to the north-east. Richmond can’t be written off as they beat Esher and Old Albanian in their last two games, but should find the home form of Blaydon too powerful.

Cinderford after their third loss in a row are back in 9^th place and are at home to third placed Rosslyn Park, whose recent form shows a creditable draw with leaders Ealing but away losses to Wharfedale and Blaydon. A difficult game to predict but possibly home advantage will prove the difference.

Fourth placed Esher, who have lost their last two games to Richmond and Blackheath, will be wanting to maintain their 8 point lead over the chasing pack, face Loughborough Students who are now finding their way in National League 1. The Students looking for their 4^th win in a row cannot be taken too lightly and another close game is expected.

It is 5^th versus 7^th as another new side Old Albanian see the visit of Fylde. OA have only lost once at home this season and are now only 8 points behind Esher. Fylde whose away form has been somewhat indifferent despite recently winning at Blackheath cannot be written off and if the weather allows this may be a high scoring game.

A mid table battle is in prospect as Wharfedale face the visit of Blackheath. Dales form has been somewhat erratic with losses to bottom side Macclesfield and Tynedale but are capable of putting on a good home performance. Blackheath despite a recent loss at home to Fylde beat Esher away last time out, another game too close to call.

The final two games involve two of the bottom three sides meeting mid table sides with 15^th place Cambridge having Coventry as their visitors. Cambridge who are 18 points from safety before any possible points deduction meet a Coventry side still in 11^th place but still only 6 points from 5^th place. Coventry will be looking for their 2^nd away win of the season but will be buoyed up by their last win over Cinderford. Cambridge who have only won once in their last 11 games but still have an ability to score tries have a good home record over Coventry. A game Coventry cannot take too lightly.

The final game sees 14^th place Sedgley Park meeting Tynedale. Sedgley Park arrested an almost terminal run of losses by beating Coventry last time out at home, but they are still 12 points from safety, and face a Tynedale side not wishing to be sucked into the relegation fight and whose recent form has been better. Another close game to call.

Coventry Rugby v Cambridge match preview.

The League programme recommences with the visit of Coventry Rugby to face Cambridge at Volac Park this Saturday 5^th January 2013 kick off 2pm.This is the return fixture from September when Coventry won 37-5, which was largely based on Coventry’s excellent defence and finishing power. Since then although Coventry’s away from has been  poor with only one win away, Cambridge for their part have only managed to beat  Loughborough Students, Tynedale and Sedgley Park and are the third lowest scorers in the league .Coventry Rugby for their part have the best defensive record in the league.

Cambridge have been somewhat inconsistent in their game plan either coming from too far behind for the 2^nd half or else fading badly in the latter part of games. In their last defeat out against Loughborough Students they were 34 nil behind after 30 minutes but a 2^nd half fight back almost saw them win.

After finishing last season in 12^th place with 13 wins and 17 defeats Cambridge are currently in 15^th place on 17 points with a possible 5 point deduction to come with just the 3 wins and 13 defeats. However Cambridge under the auspices of New Zealander Glen Remnant and Backs Coach Richard Horne cannot be taken too lightly as they have enough pace in their backs with experience in the forwards to trouble most sides, as Coventry have found to their cost in their previous visits to Cambridge.

Key players that Coventry need to heed includes Michael Ayrton at fullback and wingers Mike Gillick and Pat Tapley, any loose ball can easily be re-cycled using their pace. In centre Albert Portsmouth they have a try scorer and half backs Elliot Bale as fly half and goal kicker and No 9 Dan Hunter.

The pack have experience in Gareth McComb and Rob Conquest as locks and Steven Hipwell as No 8 who has caused Coventry problems in the past. Experience in the front row is found in prop Tom Fidler, who has found a penchant for scoring tries, as well as fellow prop Chris Cutts, as well as South African hooker Jarrod Taylor.

The last two seasons has seen Cambridge do the double over Coventry, but following their first win over Cambridge in September this game is the first opportunity this season for Coventry to complete a double, as well of course of getting their second away win of the season, a win which could put them in sight of 6^th place.

Cambridge are urgently in need of the win to give them some sort of hope to escape the relegation zone.

Please note the early kick off time and the Coventry Rugby team will be published later on in the week when available.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

30^th December 2012